1. Engaging Civil Society in Priorities for Strengthening Governance over Public Resources
March 5, 2003

2. Most Societies have 3 Main Actors:

3. Government (or the State) ...
… is necessary to ensure law and order.

4. Private Business …
… is the engine for social and economic development.
Many claim that the fall of the USSR meant the victory of capitalism over communism. Another way to look at it is a demonstration of the need for a balance between the three actors.
In the USSR, the government was too powerful and out of balance. If capitalism gets out of balance by having no regulations placed upon it, the system too will fail.

5. What is “Civil Society”?
One Definition:
Individuals and organizations that are independent of the government and able to exercise rights of free speech and association.
Examples of CS actors include:
NGOs
Cooperatives
Trade unions
Associations
Parent-School Councils
Others
This definition of civil society comes from the CRS website.
Sometimes the media is also included within civil society. While media organizations are often for-profit agencies, the independent media collectively plays an important role in providing access to information.
Encourage discussion here. What are people’s understandings of civil society from their experience regionally or locally?

6. One important ROLE …
… to balance one another and ensure the others are functioning effectively, transparently and responsibly.

7. External Barriers to Effective Civil Society Participation
Lack of desire and mechanisms for communication between NGOs and other actors
Lack of information about the processes (e.g. clear timetables, implementation strategy)
Lack of trust that government will accept civil society input
Lack of experience in working with government
Lack of media ability to foster policy dialogue
Lack of transparent and accountable role of international community actors
Government which changes often
Note that CRS is also a civil society organization in the US. Therefore, our natural partners are other non-governmental organizations in other countries. However, we also work to strengthen private business (through micro-enterprise, for example) and government when they are weak and are good partners for programs.

8. Priorities for Government/Donors
Institutionalize and unify channels of communication between civil society and government
Wider and more accessible publications by government of actors/timetables/goals of PRSP process and other policy initiatives
Wider and more accessible publication by government of budgets
Regular review sessions with government and NGOs on projects)
Official response to feedback provided to government by civil society, including why recommendations rejected if they are
Set and abide by policy development and implementation timelines that enable genuine participation
Create legislative environment more supportive of local NGOs, especially with regard to registration, tax, and reporting

9. Internal Barriers to Effective Civil Society Participation in Govt
Internal Barriers to Effective Civil Society Participation in Govt. Decision-Making
Lack of constructive plan of participation
Lack of capacity (human resources, policy knowledge, policy analysis)
Lack of communication and coordination among NGOs
Lack of financial resources
Uneven level of constituency participation
Apathy towards authorities and governance issues

10. Priorities for NGOs
Involve better other civil society actors in PRSP and other policy processes
Devise procedures for choosing NGO representatives in policy discussions and clarify whom they represent
Make better use of resources already offered by the government
Strengthen the shared vision and plan for participation in PRSP and other policy initiatives